Situation
Wind turbine farms are sprouting up across the United States. In 2007 alone, U.S. wind power capacity surged by 46%, with 5,329MW added and $9 billion invested.
Often standing at heights over 200 feet, wind turbines are considered obstructions to air navigation. As specified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), they must be illuminated so aircraft can easily identify and avoid them.
Flash Technology, an SPX company, has supplied more than 1,500 lighting systems on over 45 wind farms, representing approximately 7000MW in the United States.
Although the company’s G3 model obstruction light had proven highly successful with its wind turbine customers, the size of the system made it cumbersome to install. Before developing an easier to install product, Flash Technology representatives interviewed current and prospective customers to better understand marketplace needs.
Challenge
The FAA provides guidelines for any obstruction lighting beam angle, as well as for the amount of ground scatter ― the amount of light directed at the ground. Despite careful consideration of the impact to the surrounding communities, wind farms are under constant pressure to do more.
In discussions with current and prospective customers, Flash Technology representatives were told that an obstruction beacon with a tightly focused light beam was highly desirable to help them comply with regulations ― and to help minimize intrusive lighting in surrounding communities.
Wind turbine owners also expressed concerns about the ease of installation, maintenance costs and product longevity.
In typical installations, the main components of the light — the GPS, controller and photocell —all have to be mounted separately on the nacelle. (The nacelle sits atop the tower and contains the gear box, generator, controls and brake.) Space inside the nacelle is limited, making installation, wiring and placement difficult and time consuming.
Some obstruction lighting systems also have moving parts, making breakdowns and the need for maintenance more prevalent.
Solution
Flash Technology developed the FTB 360i, designed specifically for wind turbine installations to meet FAA regulations and to address the needs cited by wind turbine owners in their customer research.
All external components, including the red light controller, GPS and photocell, were moved inside the beacon to create a low maintenance, integrated unit.
Weighing only 33 pounds and measuring 15 inches across and 12.6 inches tall, the FTB 360i’s compact design makes it easy to handle.
In addition, the system seamlessly interfaces with existing installations and easily replaces older technology using the existing mounting brackets.
Community Friendly Lighting
The FTB 360i generates a true three degree vertical beam of light as required by the FAA for aviation safety. (Meeting this requirement without the light spilling beyond the three degree beam minimizes the impact on surrounding homes and communities).
The LEDs in the FTB 360i are seated facing up, making the light reflect up into the reflective casing and then outward and giving a sharp cutoff for any downward light spill from the true three degree vertical beam.
Low Maintenance, Long Lasting
The FTB 360i has no moving parts, giving it a longer life cycle and requiring less maintenance than other systems on the market that have moving parts that can fail.
In addition, newly developed status indicators give easy-to-read diagnostics, eliminating the need for special diagnostic tools.
Learn More
For more information about Flash Technology’s aviation obstruction lighting solutions for industries ranging from wind power and telecommunications to civil construction and utilities, go to www.flashtechnology.com.